Nutrition and Food SystemsPlan of Work

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Menifee County CES

Title:
Nutrition and Food Systems
MAP:
Improve Physical and Mental Health
Agents Involved:
Kayla Walton, Mary McCarty
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Nutrition and Food Systems General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Food Preparation and Preservation
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Situation:

A foundation of nutrition knowledge, skills and competencies in topics such as food safety, handling and preparation, cooking methods and techniques, feeding practices, food science, and food systems are essential to changing dietary behaviors. According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data Menifee County has a 53% obesity rate, which is 18 % higher than the state rate. Menifee County also has higher rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes (21%) and hypertension (49%). Due to higher rates of nutrition and behavior related illnesses, individuals, families, and communities need tools and environments that support healthful dietary decisions. CES agents are encouraged to reach diverse audiences to help combat chronic disease and obesity in Kentucky communities. The Menifee County Community Assessment showed that issues such as “Fewer chronic diseases”, “Fewer overweight or obese youth and adults”, and “More sources for buying safe, affordable, fresh local foods” were all rated important/ very important by community members and listed amongst the top issues in the county.  

Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:
Initial Outcomes:
Evaluation:

Outcome:  Nutrition knowledge, skills, and competencies

Indicator:  Number of individuals who reported: use knowledge and skills to improve food-shopping management; utilize the food label to make healthy food choices; choosing smaller portions; increased food preparation knowledge; demonstrated recommended food preparation practices

Method: Self-report surveys; specific curricula or program evaluations

Timeline:  Pre-post implementing curricula or program


Outcome: Preparing and preserving food 

Indicator:  Number of individuals who reported: preparing more home-cooked meals; modifying ingredients and/or preparation techniques to improve nutrition

Method: Self-report survey; specific curricula or program evaluations

Timeline:  Pre-post implementing curricula or program


Outcome:  Dietary intake 

Indicator:  Number of individuals who reported: eating 4-6 servings of fruits and/or vegetables daily, decreasing consumption of solid fats, sodium, added sugars and processed foods.

Method: Self-report surveys about fruit and vegetable intake or other dietary improvements; specific curricula or program evaluations

Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program


Outcome:  Availability and access to healthy food 

Indicator:  Number of individuals who reported: utilizing delivery systems/access points (e.g., farmers’ markets, WIC, food pantries) that offer healthy foods; supplementing diets with healthy foods grown or preserved (e.g., community or home gardens, fishing, hunting, farmers markets); dollar value of vendor-reported sales or EBT, WIC, or Senior benefits redeemed at farmers’ markets; number of pints of foods preserved through water bath canning, pressure canning, freezing, or drying. 

Method: Self-report survey

Timeline:  Pre-post implementing curricula or program

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Communities


Project or Activity:  Farmers Market Outreach

Content or Curriculum: Cooking programs, marketing, increased access (e.g. location, hours, EBT), Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud resources, Farmers Market Toolkit, Super Star Chef, Farmer’s Market incentives and special events

Inputs: Nutrition Education Program (NEP), paid staff, grant funds, facilities, Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Date: April – October/Growing seasons


Project or Activity:  Policy, Systems, and Environmental Approaches

Content or Curriculum: Faithful Families, Health Coalitions, resources for early care and education settings

Inputs: Volunteers, grant funds, faith-based organizations, community partners, key stakeholders, SNAP-Ed Toolkit 

Date: Academic school year, summer programs, ongoing annual programs



Audience: Families and Individuals


Project or Activity:  Food Preparation for Better Health

Content or Curriculum: Cook Together Eat Together, Mastering Food Choices, Dining with Diabetes, Super Star Chef, Champion Food Volunteer, Faithful Families, Body Balance, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud Resources, plans for prenatal- and infant/toddler-specific curriculum, resources for early care and education settings

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners, faith-based organizations, health coalitions

Date: Ongoing projects throughout the year


Project or Activity:  Food Preservation

Content or Curriculum: Publications, Trainings, Home-Based Micro-Processing Training, Champion Food Volunteers, Put It Up (GA Extension)

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, programmatic materials, NEP

Date: July – September for adults and youth


Audience: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association/Volunteers


Project or Activity:  Promoting Nutrition with Volunteers

Content or Curriculum: Champion Food Volunteers, Mastering Food Choices, International Cuisine publications, Food preservation workshops, Monthly Leader Lessons

Inputs: Volunteers, paid staff, community partners

Date: Monthly



Success Stories

Virtual Preservation Demonstration

Author: Kayla Walton

Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation

The Covid-19 Pandemic presented many challenges for our county programs. One challenge was to move our programming to a virtual format in order to safely provide information to community members. Another challenge from the Covid-19 Pandemic has been increased food insecurity and increased demand for self-sufficiency skills such as home food preservation. One successful program that met both of these needs was our Family and Consumer Sciences Food Preservation demonstration videos.Demonstration v

Full Story

Virtual Cook Together, Eat Together

Author: Kayla Walton

Major Program: Cook Together, Eat Together

Virtual Cook Together, Eat Together

The Menifee County Family and Consumer Sciences agent, in collaboration with the Snap-ed assistant, hosted a virtual “Cook Together, Eat Together” program. Six families registered and participated in three virtual cooking socials. Families who registered were provided with meal kits that they picked up from the extension office before the virtual meeting. Meal kits included all ingredients needed to prepare the recipes in approximate portion sizes, along with a copy of the recipe. Wi

Full Story
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